Guatemalan Citizen Sentenced for Illegal Reentry Following New York Traffic Stop
Emmerson Versain Velasquez-Hernandez was sentenced to time served after pleading guilty to reentering the United States unlawfully.
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On August 17, 2026, official records from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York announced that Emmerson Versain Velasquez-Hernandez, age 25, of Guatemala, pled guilty on July 21 to one count of illegal reentry into the United States. The situation remains open and developing as Velasquez-Hernandez is currently subject to deportation following his sentence.
According to official court records, Velasquez-Hernandez was previously arrested in 2024 for entering the country illegally and was subsequently deported. On May 4, 2026, he was found in Franklin County following a traffic stop. Official records state that he had not sought or received permission from the Attorney General or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to reapply for admission into the United States.
District Court Judge Elizabeth C. Coombe sentenced Velasquez-Hernandez to time served based on the two and a half months he spent imprisoned on the charge following his arrest. The U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Cheung prosecuted it.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III said, "Illegal aliens who enter the United States unlawfully pose a real and immediate risk when their identities and intentions are unknown. This defendant had previously been removed for illegal entry and again chose to violate U.S. law by reentering the country. Thanks to the efforts of our partners at the U.S. Border Patrol, this individual will be returned to Guatemala." Acting Chief Patrol Agent Richard J. Fortunato of the U.S. Border Patrol's Swanton Sector said, "I commend the agents of Swanton Sector for their hard work in contributing to the successful prosecution of those who commit crimes along our nation's borders. Our efforts help protect and improve the quality of life for border communities and for those in the interior of our country."
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- Version 118 Aug 2026, 12:23current
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